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| Hassan Chahdi celebrates after winning the under-23 title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Albufeira in 2010. |
Frenchman Hassan Chahdi is no stranger to success at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships after winning a team gold a year ago and the under-23 title 12 months earlier.
But now he is eyeing up the senior men's crown in Budapest next month and he is going there after a period of training with his French teammates in Kenya.
Chahdi, 23, is hoping that this foundation will help him find a place on the podium in Budapest on 9 December.
It is the fifth time he has been to train in the African country and he said: 'We had good sessions.
'We were in a good group (with) Irba Lakhal, Himer Driss El Mokhtar, Benjamin Malaty, Denis Mayaud and Yoann Kowal.
'It was two different generations, but it is precisely this which was interesting. I took advantage of their experience.'
His experiences so far have indicated that he is heading for greatness at the European Cross Country Championships.
In Dublin in 2009, Chahdi was second in the men's under-23 race in 25:17 behind teammate Noureddine Smail, who won in 25:11 and then 12 months after that in Albufeira, he went quicker to triumph in 24:11.
Twelve months on in Velenje, he missed out by just one second on a bronze in the senior race, finishing fourth in 29:22 behind Portugal's Jose Rocha.
But his performance helped France take the team gold, with Chahdi joined by Morhad Amdouni, Mohktar Benhari and Benjamin Malaty at the top of the podium.
Talking to athle.com, they are now a group looking for more.
He said: 'We had a collective goal, that of the European championships to weld the group. We are stronger and more consistent than last year.
'The European Cross Country Championships are looming. It is our competition - with five titles in the last five years.'
As the days tick away to the next big event in the European calendar, the French are ready - of that there is no doubt.